tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88248411701090202772024-02-21T01:57:39.770-03:00Rugby in Rio de JaneiroProactive, dynamic, thrusting - if you want a paradigm shift for your next-gen business, then think outside the box, and hit the ground running with me. If, on the other hand, you are not looking for a new employee but are just spending some quality time browsing, then this is the rugby blog for you!wdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993287210672562335noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824841170109020277.post-47820170090354954132011-04-08T16:43:00.000-03:002011-04-08T16:43:56.703-03:00Picture of Brazil's winning women's national 7s team<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5E42mzls2nfMWfly3jNBwLtQ_wDB3euOHPNx8jjkjYx5_POW1NHHyVU_vTsYBhF5UmgKB2LKTN4OxJZHfolGgx7ZvQChkHa8Iu3BfDN8NpUkgHU2a8opBmY5ywyW0Jo_aYwc3dmgORQ/s1600/Brasil_Campeon_Femenino_010110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5E42mzls2nfMWfly3jNBwLtQ_wDB3euOHPNx8jjkjYx5_POW1NHHyVU_vTsYBhF5UmgKB2LKTN4OxJZHfolGgx7ZvQChkHa8Iu3BfDN8NpUkgHU2a8opBmY5ywyW0Jo_aYwc3dmgORQ/s320/Brasil_Campeon_Femenino_010110.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Congratulations ladies, the best in South America once again!wdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993287210672562335noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824841170109020277.post-61453108123288147572011-04-08T16:27:00.000-03:002011-04-08T16:27:35.674-03:00Guest Post from theOnion.com<strong><u>Source: <a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/you-will-suffer-humiliation-when-the-sports-team-f,10804/">http://www.theonion.com/articles/you-will-suffer-humiliation-when-the-sports-team-f,10804/</a> </u></strong><br />
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<strong>By Bill Brodhagen </strong><br />
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<strong><u>You Will Suffer Humiliation When The Sports Team From My Area Defeats The Sports Team From Your Area </u></strong><br />
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As you can see from the calendar, the game is coming up this weekend. I'm sure you are as excited for it as I am, as our cities are rivals and have been for quite some time. Your confidence in your team is high, but rest assured, you will suffer humiliation when the sports team from my area defeats the sports team from your area. <br />
On numerous occasions, you have expressed the conviction that your area's sports team will be victorious. I must admit that every time I hear you make this proclamation, I react with both laughter and disbelief. "Ha!" I say to myself with laughter. "What?!" I say to myself in disbelief. How could you believe that your sports team could beat my sports team? It is clear that yours is inferior in every way. <br />
When the sporting contest begins, the players on your team will be treated as though they are inconsequential. It will be remarkably easy for my team to accumulate more points than yours. There are many reasons for this, starting with the inferior physical attributes of the players representing your area. Strength, speed, and agility are just three of the qualities that the players on the team from your area lack. The players representing my area, on the other hand, have these traits in abundance. <br />
I would not be a bit surprised if the individuals on the team from your area were sexually attracted to members of their own gender. That is how ineffective they are on the field of battle. <br />
Underscoring your team's inferiority is its choice of colors. It is ludicrous to believe that your team's colors inspire either respect or fear. Instead, they appear to have been chosen by someone who is colorblind or, perhaps, bereft of sight altogether. The colors for my team, on the other hand, are aesthetically pleasing when placed in proximity to one another. They are a superior color combination in every way. <br />
While we are on the subject of aesthetics, let us compare the respective facilities in which our teams play. While my team's edifice is blessed with architectural splendor and the most modern of amenities, yours is a thoroughly unpleasant place in which to watch a sporting contest. I know of what I speak, for I once attended a game between our respective teams in your facility. Let's just say the experience left me wishing that my car was inoperable that day due to mechanical problems, rendering it impossible for me to get to your area to attend the game. <br />
If you need another reason why the sporting franchise representing my area is superior, look no further than the supporters for the two sides. Not only are the supporters of the team from my region more spirited, but they are also more intelligent and of finer breeding than you and the rest of your ilk. In addition, the female supporters of the team from my area possess more attractive countenances and figures than yours. Some of the women from my side that I have observed could make a living by posing for pictures for major men's magazines. The women who cheer for your team, I'm afraid, are far too unattractive to do so. <br />
One of the more pathetic aspects of the team from your area is the fact that only people in your immediate area possess an affinity for it. By means of contrast, the team from my area inspires loyalty and affection in individuals who live in many other geographic locations. <br />
To illustrate this point, let me tell a brief story: Recently, I was on vacation in an area of the country far away from my own, and I saw many individuals wearing items of clothing that bore the insignia of my team. I approached one such individual and asked him if he originated from my area. He said no, explaining that he simply liked the team from my area and had for many years. Interestingly enough, during this trip, I saw no clothing or other paraphernalia bearing the insignia of your team. <br />
Do you still doubt that the team from your area is inferior to the one from mine? Just look at our teams' respective histories. In the past, we have defeated you on any number of occasions. Granted, there were times when your team beat my team, but those were lucky flukes. <br />
The day of the game will soon be at hand. And no matter how hard you pray to a higher power or how many foam accoutrements you wear in support of the team from your area, your team will be defeated. We will win and you will lose. This is your fate. <br />
Prepare for humiliation. It shall be upon you at the designated hour. <br />
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I am not being intentionally lazy, I just liked this article enough to cut&paste it!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xCTmeMOfARujF1P6m_l543KzZiFlwAoVP_5q2egaLsyFDAfeB0rq2dSjfb6t37fcr5O3hPa3KUzC_ZDCwAdqOf4Z2XnMM593MnRLbyZWUTu2XjAD_NvTqzoMoYQuz9L_me5J4MHZ3-0/s1600/rollerball12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xCTmeMOfARujF1P6m_l543KzZiFlwAoVP_5q2egaLsyFDAfeB0rq2dSjfb6t37fcr5O3hPa3KUzC_ZDCwAdqOf4Z2XnMM593MnRLbyZWUTu2XjAD_NvTqzoMoYQuz9L_me5J4MHZ3-0/s320/rollerball12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>wdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993287210672562335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824841170109020277.post-11645941575382539752011-04-06T23:24:00.000-03:002011-04-06T23:24:24.991-03:00Rugby season is back in BrazilAfter an extended break, this blog is back. Rugby is still the main focus, but there will be a slight change of emphasis, and more articles about Brazil in general.<br />
It is now autumn in Brazil, even though the temperatures are still in the 80's (or high 20's for you Celsius seekers), and that means that the state rugby championships have begun. Live rugby! At a soccer ground near <strike>you</strike> me now!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2wpoFhR4-1Xsrk4VVwJAXuIdYgGWc9Pma556eNIgqIoB0aAHocv2JsD6LZOlMaWoBRUdWAHBnBc9OfzWIpONfPt8z-rdScbWwvwr7R5D-2E_yLM4jjuWOQYrwUDt_q5d1X5hcKZ1daA/s1600/Niteroi+Rugby+April+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2wpoFhR4-1Xsrk4VVwJAXuIdYgGWc9Pma556eNIgqIoB0aAHocv2JsD6LZOlMaWoBRUdWAHBnBc9OfzWIpONfPt8z-rdScbWwvwr7R5D-2E_yLM4jjuWOQYrwUDt_q5d1X5hcKZ1daA/s320/Niteroi+Rugby+April+10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This Sunday, April 10th, there will be a double-header at the university ground of UFF in central Niteroi city. The pitch is not very good quality, but there are good views across the bay towards Rio de Janeiro. And its FREE for spectators! My predictions: UFF to win by 20 points; Niteroi to win by 50 points. <br />
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And there's more! On Saturday 9th, it is the turn of the female teams and the male under-19 teams to strut their stuff in their own tournaments, at the same venue. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZnpg8eTb2GUVkqUPEuVQVKi48JKNrmyh-HkNKYhbp_t-hf6FcVPrVAC-M95HlnTMN8QW23dLqGhmfyh2i7zAtZ6RyCpkWrKAS8IO351wJgPfEOw80IXqn7zWjMEGLwSOuHC7W45HRfuI/s1600/rugby+juvenil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZnpg8eTb2GUVkqUPEuVQVKi48JKNrmyh-HkNKYhbp_t-hf6FcVPrVAC-M95HlnTMN8QW23dLqGhmfyh2i7zAtZ6RyCpkWrKAS8IO351wJgPfEOw80IXqn7zWjMEGLwSOuHC7W45HRfuI/s320/rugby+juvenil.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>That is a lot of rugby for one weekend, let us hope that the local clubs can get some media coverage of it. To misquote John Travolta, "Publicity is the word". wdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993287210672562335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824841170109020277.post-4281920212202316792011-04-06T22:59:00.000-03:002011-04-06T22:59:20.491-03:00Weighty WordsThis one is for Brenda! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSC7OjZTNxnk9r4RFuVTFrO81NWzzaiNXSh-u52xnAnD6EZ_-RO0q8O2YpYUHnRjJGzCGmb2Zpiz44FrLgkLDPBfcjpS2d-eDAorz61dnuUQxnsp3onBojBRG-dEIKvlnS-7gjmonsZo/s1600/Weigh-your-words.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVSC7OjZTNxnk9r4RFuVTFrO81NWzzaiNXSh-u52xnAnD6EZ_-RO0q8O2YpYUHnRjJGzCGmb2Zpiz44FrLgkLDPBfcjpS2d-eDAorz61dnuUQxnsp3onBojBRG-dEIKvlnS-7gjmonsZo/s320/Weigh-your-words.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Se, you <strong>can </strong>weigh words. ;-) <br />
Keep on blogging.wdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993287210672562335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824841170109020277.post-42268551017293293412011-04-06T22:51:00.000-03:002011-04-06T22:51:49.614-03:00What is Wrong with Brazil?Toothpaste tube lids. Yes, <strong>toothpaste tube lids. </strong>They are an indication of what is wrong with Brazil. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcAC8HNs_BGBBUY4qBlow5UgQnN4u_tRItfuEGp36mZRGMgl1g3xz3zPUeViRB2b7zn8F3lY4AtKOnf0lrKTWLT0TfjJ35kYjJsDms72oblGdEO7pKy_lvQ9sB8IJ964QE2KERvKdnGQ/s1600/toothpaste_tube250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcAC8HNs_BGBBUY4qBlow5UgQnN4u_tRItfuEGp36mZRGMgl1g3xz3zPUeViRB2b7zn8F3lY4AtKOnf0lrKTWLT0TfjJ35kYjJsDms72oblGdEO7pKy_lvQ9sB8IJ964QE2KERvKdnGQ/s1600/toothpaste_tube250.jpg" /></a></div>Shown above is the standard flip-top style lid, which has been around for at least a decade. More hygienic, less hassle, better all around than the old-fashioned screw-on top. Only... <br />
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Only the flip-top lid is not used in Brazil, by any toothpaste company! WTF! Nobody can be bothered to invest in this upgrade, and apparently no consumers here care enough to demand it. Or maybe they are not listened to by the people in power. <br />
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It is only a small thing, but it is sadly emblematic of the stagnation which rules here.wdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993287210672562335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824841170109020277.post-78819148417915146992011-01-26T22:47:00.000-02:002011-01-26T22:47:42.210-02:00Tennis: Scotland's Murray wins in Australian Open, goes through to semi-finals<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know its not rugby, but geeza brek! Andy Murray is raising the profile of Scotland abroad. Here in Brazil, British = English, and English= British, normally. So three cheers for Andy Murray, Dario Franchitti, and anyone else who is promoting Scotland on the world stage. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This report comes from Rio's O Globo newspaper: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://oglobo.globo.com/blogs/topspin/posts/2011/01/26/murray-bate-algoz-de-soderling-volta-as-semifinais-359031.asp">http://oglobo.globo.com/blogs/topspin/posts/2011/01/26/murray-bate-algoz-de-soderling-volta-as-semifinais-359031.asp</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>26/Feb/2011 Murray bate algoz de Soderling e volta às semifinais</strong> </span><br />
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<img alt="" height="388" src="http://oglobo.globo.com/blogs/arquivos_upload/2011/01/288_2628-Murray%20vibra.jpg" title="Murray vibra muito na vitória sobre o ucraniano - Reuters" width="300" /> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Atual vice-campeão, o britânico Andy Murray está de volta às semifinais do Aberto da Austrália. O número 5 do mundo, que ainda não perdera sets no torneio, pôs fim à surpreendente <span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">campanha do ucraniano Alexandr Dolgopolov (que vinha de vitória sobre o sueco Robin Soderling), ao batê-lo por 7-5, 6-3, 6-7 (3) e 6-3.<br />
</span>Nas semifinais, o britânico encara um espanhol: Rafael Nadal ou David Ferrer. (WDR: Ferrer) <br />
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Dá-lhe, Murray! </span>wdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993287210672562335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824841170109020277.post-21222577935024242872010-12-24T16:50:00.002-02:002010-12-24T16:54:52.933-02:00Give the gift of rugby at Christmas!<span class="style6"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Dê um mês de treino no SPAC como presente de Natal </strong></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span class="style6">As a Christmas present, why not give someone a voucher for one month's training with Sao Paulo team SPAC Rugby </span></strong></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span class="style6"><u><img class="rg_hi" data-height="167" data-width="163" height="167" id="rg_hi" 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<div id="HOTWordsTxt"><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><u><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong></strong></span></u></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">O vale-presente <strong><taghw>A VIDA É <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8824841170109020277#" onclick="Pal647588023hw.hwClqnaj("BELA");return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" onmouseout="Pal647588023hw.hideMaybe(this, "BELA"); this.style.cursor="hand"; this.style.textDecoration="underline"; this.style.borderBottom="dotted 1px"; " onmouseover="Pal647588023hw.hwShow(event, this, "BELA"); this.style.cursor="hand"; this.style.textDecoration="underline"; this.style.borderBottom="solid";" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted; color: #006600; cursor: hand; text-decoration: underline;">BELA</a></taghw></strong>, possui vários kits diferentes para você dar um presente criativo. Os kits são temáticos: gourmet, spas, aventura etc.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dentro de cada kit, há uma série de opções de atividades e estabelecimentos que é possível utilizar o vale-presente. Basta escolher, agendar e usar.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>The cost of the voucher is R$ 179. [WDR: About $110] </strong></span><br />
O seu cheque presente dá direito a: Um mês de treino, duas vezes por semana com equipe e padrinho /madrinha acompanhando, terminando com... </div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><taghw><taghw><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No kit EXTREME, o SPAC é uma das opções de presente, o </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8824841170109020277#" onclick="Pal647588023hw.hwClqnaj("ganhador");return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" onmouseout="Pal647588023hw.hideMaybe(this, "ganhador"); this.style.cursor="hand"; this.style.textDecoration="underline"; this.style.borderBottom="dotted 1px"; " onmouseover="Pal647588023hw.hwShow(event, this, "ganhador"); this.style.cursor="hand"; this.style.textDecoration="underline"; this.style.borderBottom="solid";" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted; color: #006600; cursor: hand; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ganhador</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> poderá treinar um mês no SPAC, podendo ainda </taghw></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8824841170109020277#" onclick="Pal647588023hw.hwClqnaj("disputar");return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" onmouseout="Pal647588023hw.hideMaybe(this, "disputar"); this.style.cursor="hand"; this.style.textDecoration="underline"; this.style.borderBottom="dotted 1px"; " onmouseover="Pal647588023hw.hwShow(event, this, "disputar"); this.style.cursor="hand"; this.style.textDecoration="underline"; this.style.borderBottom="solid";" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted; color: #006600; cursor: hand; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">disputar</span></a><taghw><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> um </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8824841170109020277#" onclick="Pal647588023hw.hwClqnaj("jogo");return false;" oncontextmenu="return false;" onmouseout="Pal647588023hw.hideMaybe(this, "jogo"); this.style.cursor="hand"; this.style.textDecoration="underline"; this.style.borderBottom="dotted 1px"; " onmouseover="Pal647588023hw.hwShow(event, this, "jogo"); this.style.cursor="hand"; this.style.textDecoration="underline"; this.style.borderBottom="solid";" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted; color: #006600; cursor: hand; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">jogo</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></taghw></taghw></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Visit the site : </span><a href="http://www.avidaebela.com.br/p-1165-rugby.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.avidaebela.com.br/p-1165-rugby.aspx</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div align="justify"><em><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></em></div><div align="justify"><em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Source: </span><a href="http://www.spacrugby.com.br/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SPAC Rugby </span></a></em></div></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img class="rg_hi" data-height="231" data-width="218" height="231" id="rg_hi" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRvhvAiDfcsHVXmc8FNG56j74hIr0gEgnlkJnnN8JE1qBWjt1ol8Q" style="height: 231px; width: 218px;" width="218" /> </span>wdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993287210672562335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824841170109020277.post-63797403482246823372010-12-24T15:31:00.000-02:002010-12-24T15:31:12.314-02:00Olympic re-inclusion will boost rugby worldwide<div class="field field-type-text field-field-story-stand-first"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><div jquery1293211281305="206"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dan Lyle talks to reporter Kevin Roberts about the ways <strong>Olympic inclusion will impact on the development of rugby</strong> in his country. </span></div><div jquery1293211281305="206"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Imagine this scenario. Its August 2016 in Rio de Janiero and a hushed stadium awaits the medal presentation in the men’s rugby sevens, the first medals to be presented for rugby since the 1930s.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the national flags are raised to their podium positions a familiar anthem echoes around the stadium. But it is not the anthem of New Zealand, or Australia, France or the combined Great Britain team. Instead, the world is held in union by The Star Spangled Banner, that perennial Olympic favourite getting a fresh airing in a new sport.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Far-fetched? Perhaps not. <strong>Every Olympic Games reminds us that when the United States decides something’s worth doing, they tend to do it rather well, and the decision to include rugby sevens in the Olympic schedule has the potential to strip the shackles from a sport largely restricted to colleges and unleash it on the world stage. </strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rugby union’s re-admission to the Olympic family has been the cause for much rejoicing in many parts of the world where <strong>Olympic recognition is a trigger for funding that can help the sport build profile and recognition.</strong> But nowhere is the impact likely to be more dramatic than in the <strong>United States, where the nation’s obsession with all things Olympic means that the national sevens team will be take a turbo-charged ride to national prominence</strong>, fuelled by United States Olympic Committee (USOC) funding and <strong>significant television exposure. </strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Olympic opportunity is massive and it is one that Dan Lyle, former captain of both the national team, the US Eagles, and Bath in England’s Premiership, is determined not to squander. Today Lyle is Tournament Director of USA Sevens, a commercial organisation which works with governing body USA Rugby Union to promote tournaments, run the commercial programme and publish a US rugby magazine and website. It is, Lyle says, a far-from-usual model compared to certain US sports. He points to US Soccer, where a specialised commercial division, United Soccer Marketing, takes care of business leaving the governing body to focus on development and governance issues. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lyle’s own story is fascinating and the focus and commitment to success that he has demonstrated throughout his playing career is now being applied to the sports business. Brought up in a military family, he spent some of his childhood in Europe, gaining a familiarity with the world outside America which, he says, may have contributed to his willingness to build a sporting career beyond its shores.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He was a formidable College Football player but it is reported he struggled to make it with a professional side. He was invited to pre-season try-outs by teams including the Washington Redskins and there was a league minimum offer from the Minnesota Vikings, but Lyle decided to go his own way. He had started playing rugby to keep in shape after College Football and found an affinity with a game which suited his size and powerful athleticism. Lyle found rugby union also represented a fast-track opportunity to represent his country and tour the world. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lyle won his first US Eagles cap as a flanker against Ireland in 1994 and went on to captain the side for the first of many occasions in the Pacific Rim tournament against Japan a couple of years later. This was at a time when rugby union was slowly adapting to its new professional era and his performance in an international against Canada was noted by representatives of Bath, a leading English club that was looking for talented second rows.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Packing any remaining National Football League dreams into a kitbag, Lyle set off for England for trials and, eventually, a low-wage contract which was the start of an enduring relationship with the club. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“The thing I liked about playing rugby in England was that it was based on meritocracy,” he says. “There were tough times when I, in some people’s eyes, was never going to be as good as a native Englishman. However meritocracy wins out - meaning if you play the best consistently, you generally get the starting nod.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“You</span> have to back up every game with another strong performance, each time out. I overcame some of these challenges by being consistent, not just on the field, but in my preparations to get on the field. In short, I was the first to show up, and the last to leave. I led the Bath club in tackles, but also in the number of schools I visited in the community. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I recently told a couple of guys that are going to Europe to play that you must be the best player you can be. But as an old coach of mine once said, also win all the things you can win - win the press conference, win the recovery period, do all the little things well and the big things will come.” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lyle played during a time of transition for Bath as the internationals whose careers had more or less peaked around the time of the 1991 and 1994 World Cups were succeeded by a new raft of talent which kept Bath at, or close to, the top of the sport, not only in England, but in Europe. He played in the side which lifted the hugely prestigious Heineken (European) Cup in 1998, beating Brive on French soil in Bordeaux.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Eventually Lyle became the club’s skipper, somewhat inevitably earning the Captain America tag which suited his 6 feet 5 inches frame.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reflecting on his playing career in an interview with US sports broadcasting giant ESPN, Lyle said: “Playing on the US team from 1993 to 2003 was an incredible honour; a decade in the game saw many highs, playing for your country can never be topped, full stop.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“There were several full seasons at Bath where I did not feel I could be stopped and I relished in the personal and team accomplishments. Being mentioned in the top world newspapers, rugby magazines and online articles as consistently the world’s best Number Eight - as an American that was motivational to me. But more importantly, <strong>it proved to me that as a country we could be successful in rugby, not in the distant future, not someday, but now</strong>. We have an abundance of natural resources in our athletes, and the factories to produce them in our American scholastic and collegiate schools.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Source: <a href="http://www.sportbusiness.com/print-edition/feature/captain-america">http://www.sportbusiness.com/print-edition/feature/captain-america</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Date : 06/12/2010 Monday </span><br />
<br />
<br />
</div></div></div>wdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993287210672562335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824841170109020277.post-33399988220465277772010-12-24T15:10:00.000-02:002010-12-24T15:10:31.318-02:00Argentina to boost Tri Nations economy by $39m<div class="field field-type-text field-field-story-stand-first"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>The addition of Argentina to</strong> rugby union's <strong>Tri Nations</strong> competition from 2012 is set to <strong>increase the value of the tournament to $213.1 million. </strong></span><br />
<br />
<div jquery1293210350869="207"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to a study commissioned by MasterCard to the Centre for the International Business of Sport (CIBS), <strong>the 2010 edition will contribute $174.3</strong> million to the sport and leisure economy across the Southern Hemisphere. </span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sydney will benefit from the largest single impact, from hosting Australia-New Zealand, pocketing $28 million, ahead of Johannesburg and Christchurch, with $19.6 million and $12 million respectively. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“The MasterCard study highlights that Rugby is clearly booming and providing a considerable economic boost to the Southern Hemisphere,” said Dr. Anna Semens, research fellow at CIBS and MasterCard’s advisor on the business of rugby. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“The continued growth of Rugby in the region, and its positive impact on business and local communities, is particularly exciting given that the Rugby World Cup is coming to New Zealand in 2011,” added Stuart Cameron, vice president, regional sponsorships, Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa, MasterCard Worldwide. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>A similar report on Europe’s Six Nations Championship</strong> released earlier this year <strong>estimated the value of the competition to its participating nations was $632.81 million. </strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Source:</span> <a href="http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/181561/argentina-to-boost-tri-nations-economy-by-39m">http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/181561/argentina-to-boost-tri-nations-economy-by-39m</a> <br />
Date: 10/009/2010 (Friday) <br />
</div></div></div>wdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993287210672562335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824841170109020277.post-33204993376017642872010-12-24T15:04:00.000-02:002010-12-24T15:04:33.823-02:00IRB revenues down 12% on projections<div class="field field-type-text field-field-story-stand-first"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><div jquery1293210077951="207"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced record investment levels in the worldwide development of rugby union despite gross revenues falling approximately 12 per cent on expected figures, according to the body's 2009 annual report. </span></div><div jquery1293210077951="207"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The impact of the economic climate most keenly felt in the sponsorship sector, the IRB said, however it continued its commitment to global distribution of development funding during 2009 via the £48 million Global Strategic Investment Programme. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The IRB’s Group financial results showed a net loss of £40 million in 2009, however the IRB said this was broadly anticipated as the majority of revenues for the Rugby World Cup are ordinarily received in the latter half of the four-year cycle. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"These are exciting times for Rugby around the world and despite a difficult global economic climate and a reduction in operational costs, the IRB remains committed to the development of the Game worldwide," said IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Such levels of investment are made possible owing to the commercial success of Rugby World Cup, which is firmly established as one of the world’s biggest sporting events. Record reserves from the 2007 tournament in France will continue to underpin the delivery of key tournament, development and high performance programmes around the world within the four-year RWC cycle, all aimed at raising playing standards." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A cost reduction programme saw a reduction in operating costs of 5 per cent, and further 5 per cent in-line reductions are projected for its 2010 and 2011 budgets. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Source: <a href="http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/177286/irb-revenues-down-12-on-projections">http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/177286/irb-revenues-down-12-on-projections</a> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Date : 04/06/2010 (Friday) </span><br />
</div></div></div>wdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993287210672562335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824841170109020277.post-41998064764285928922010-12-24T10:15:00.000-02:002010-12-24T10:15:30.167-02:00IRB 7s series info<div class="field field-type-text field-field-story-stand-first"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><div jquery1293192751473="205"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The corporate punch of the IRB World Sevens tournament continues to grow, with TV figures for the 2003-2004 series surpassing previous records. </span></div><div jquery1293192751473="205"><br />
</div><div class="field field-type-text field-field-body"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to RUGBYeNEWS.com, coverage of the eight events - in Dubai, George, Wellington, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bordeaux and London [WDR: No Scotland?!?] - was screened in 126 territories worldwide, an increase of 58 per cent on 2002-2003. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also growing was the number of hours broadcast, which at 264 hours, was up 29 per cent on the previous year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The abbreviated form of the game continues to thrive in Asian markets, with the Asia-Pacific once again providing the bulk of coverage. </span></div></div></div></div></div></div><br />
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<br />
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-story-stand-first"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced another year of record TV broadcast figures for the popular IRB Sevens World Series. </span></div></div></div><div class="field field-type-text field-field-body"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 2005/06 Series, won for the first time by Fiji, experienced 1147 hours of airtime over the eight tournaments, representing an 85 percent increase on the previous year. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 2005/06 series comprised tournaments in Dubai, George (South Africa), Wellington (New Zealand), Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Singapore, Paris and London. [WDR: No Scotland?!?] </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> It was televised by 32 international broadcasters (up 3 from 2004/05) in 11 different languages and reached 187 million homes (up an impressive 27 million from 2004/05) in 136 countries (up 3 from 2004/05), and had a potential cumulative audience reach of over 475 million (up 25 million from 2004/05). Live coverage more than doubled with 530 hours of action being broadcast. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/160101/irb-announces-record-tv-figures">http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/160101/irb-announces-record-tv-figures</a> <br />
<br />
</div></div></div>wdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993287210672562335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824841170109020277.post-54264500489394247162010-12-24T10:01:00.020-02:002010-12-24T14:45:07.861-02:00RFU turnover and hospitality figures, from 2004, 2006, & 2010<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">GENERAL INFO</span> <br />
<br />
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-story-stand-first"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The English Rugby Football Union <strong>(RFU)</strong> <strong>posted a loss of £1.1 million for the year ending June 30 2010, down from a profit of £6.2 million the year before.</strong> The governing body blamed a fall in ticket income because of fewer international matches at Twickenham during the period. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-body"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd" jquery1293208750828="208"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Turnover was down</strong> £7.2 million year-on-year <strong>to £112 million</strong> and <strong>operating profit also decreased by £6 million to £25.8 million.</strong> <strong>Ticket income in 2009-10 declined to £21.3 million </strong>from £29.2 million.</span><br />
<div jquery1293208750828="207"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Although down on a strong 2008-09, the past year was in line with expectations,” said RFU Finance Director Nick Eastwood, adding that the decline in overall revenue was “mainly due to having three instead of four Investec Internationals and two instead of three RBS 6 Nations home games.”</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eastwood also said the RFU had continued its “substantial investment” in community rugby, which in total was £22.8 million during the year-long period.</span></div></div></div></div></div></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-body"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd" jquery1293191534771="205"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">=========================================================== </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The <strong>RFU’s turnover of £71.3million for 2003/04</strong> was close to last year’s record turnover of £72.4million, but Twickenham only hosted three major international matches in 2003/04 as opposed to six the previous year because of the Rugby World Cup. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The shortfall of match revenue from the usual autumn internationals, around £5.6million, and hosting only two RBS Six Nations games, resulting in a further £2.7million loss, was virtually compensated for by good performances in the RFU’s commercial and hospitality business.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The <strong>RFU’s operating profit of £13.5million</strong> was £2million higher than the 2001/02 figure and £4.9million down on 2002/03. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Revenue in the RFUs ‘Rugby Store’ rose by over 90 per cent to £7.7million,</strong> including sales of more than £1million in one calendar month in December 2003 – following England’s World Cup triumph - when £1.7million of goods were sold.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>The RFU’s hospitality business enjoyed good sales compared to previous seasons with 4,200 packages sold for England v Ireland compared to 2,706 for the same fixture in 2002. </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other income included more than £600,000 for hosting the Rolling Stones concerts held in August and September 2003 and a similar amount from the <strong>England Rugby Supporters Club,</strong> <strong>whose 22,000 membership</strong> is rising by more than 800 per month. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All contributed to offsetting the RFUs loss of three major internationals last year. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Francis Baron, chief executive of the RFU, said: “The positive effects of winning the Rugby World Cup and the boost it has given to participation levels complement the statement I made last year that we have an excellent foundation from which we can fully exploit the commercial opportunities over the next few years. I fully expect that our new sponsorship deals will generate increases of around 20% plus per deal in the future. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finance director, Nick Eastwood, said: “Our revenues and operating profit remain very high in a tough and competitive market. We have been able to ensure that our contribution to our member clubs and constituent bodies is around 40 per cent up on those made in 2002. Now that we have a full programme of major home internationals to look forward to our aim now is to produce stronger figures next year. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“We announced last August that the <strong>RFU was debt free</strong> [WDR: ie, it has NO bank charges] and we will be focussing a great deal of financial resources into the funding of the South Stand re-development which should be operational by the autumn of 2007.” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">======================================================= </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">2006 </span><br />
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-story-stand-first"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Failure in the Six Nations rugby has cost the England Rugby Football Union £1m in lost revenue, its chief executive has claimed. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-body"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><div jquery1293192905337="207"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RFU CEO Francis Baron said the World Cup holder’s inability to win more than two games cost them the cash in sponsorship and TV payments.<br />
Baron said: “We budgeted to win the Grand Slam. The difference between that - receiving 5.5 percent of the TV and sponsorship pool - and coming fourth, where the share is just two percent, was £1m.”<br />
However, the RFU may be able to boost income from its Twickenham stadium, with delays on construction of the new Wembley Stadium potentially pushing more music concerts to the traditional rugby venue. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/159599/six-nations-slump-costs-rfu-dear">http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/159599/six-nations-slump-costs-rfu-dear</a> <br />
<br />
</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>wdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993287210672562335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824841170109020277.post-46424841605671435582010-12-24T09:54:00.000-02:002010-12-24T09:54:19.420-02:00Varied kick-off times announced to increase Rugby World Cup exposure<img alt="" class="imagecache imagecache-news_full imagecache-default imagecache-news_full_default" height="180" src="http://www.sportbusiness.com/files/imagecache/news_full/77429831.jpg" title="2007 RWC winners South Africa - Getty Images Sport" width="240" /><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Organisers of the <strong>2011 Rugby World Cup</strong> in New Zealand said today that 40 per cent of matches will have late kick-offs in a move to maximise the tournament's global television audiences. Under the plans, 19 of the 48 matches will begin at 8pm (0900GMT) or later, so they will take place between 8am and 10am in Britain, France, Italy and South Africa. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-body"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd" jquery1293190935582="209"><div jquery1293190935582="208"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rugby New Zealand 2011 chief executive Martin Snedden said kick-off times had been pushed back as late as possible to avoid matches being played in the early hours of the morning in major rugby markets.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"We have achieved a good balance." he said. "If New Zealand is to make the most of the platform RWC 2011 gives us to showcase our country to the world, then we need to ensure we maximise the global television audience for key matches."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The quarter-finals will be 6pm-8.30pm double-headers, while both the semis and the final will start at 9pm. New Zealand will switch to daylight saving time midway through the tournament, meaning the 9pm kick-off time equates to 9am-10am in Europe and South Africa. </span><br />
<br />
</div></div></div>wdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993287210672562335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824841170109020277.post-71768376940418473772010-12-24T09:43:00.000-02:002010-12-24T09:43:24.464-02:00Magners League financing and attendance info<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From the Daily Mail, 28 March 2006 </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="purchaseprice">Article Excerpt</span><br />
Byline: NIALL AITCHESON <br />
<br />
IRISH cider company Magners have stepped in with a lifesaving <b style="background-color: #a0ffff; color: black;">sponsorship</b> deal for the ailing <b style="background-color: #ffff66; color: black;">Celtic League</b>. <br />
<br />
Sportsmail can exclusively reveal Magners, which is owned by <strong>Bulmers, will pay a six-figure sum each season until 2009.</strong> [WDR: The deal was later extended to May 2011]<br />
<br />
In doing so, they have ended the five-year search for a title sponsor, while sending out a message that the competition is here to stay.<br />
<br />
A source confirmed: 'An official announcement will be made later in the season, but it is 99-percent done.' The news will be a huge boost to the Scottish Rugby Union's attempts to keep the professional game afloat. <br />
<br />
Only last Friday, a record low crowd of 702 watched Borders take on Connacht at Netherdale. At Glasgow, the average gate has dropped to around 1,400. <br />
<br />
However, the Magners move should give the league some breathing space. <br />
<br />
A key component of the deal involves more marketing, as the competition has struggled for exposure since replacing the Welsh/Scottish League in 2001. <br />
<br />
The recent renaissance of Scottish international rugby is believed to have played a part in convincing Magners. <br />
</span>wdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993287210672562335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824841170109020277.post-44919285140074070952010-12-23T23:46:00.000-02:002010-12-23T23:46:20.077-02:00Brazil represented at IRB event in London<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brazil was ranked among the top six national unions in use of the "RugbyReady" training program in 2010. </span></strong><br />
<br />
<img class="rg_hi" data-height="58" data-width="256" height="58" id="rg_hi" src="data:image/jpg;base64,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" style="height: 58px; width: 256px;" width="256" /><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Brazil Rugby Confederation's (CBRu) Director of Refereeing, and IRB certified trainer, Xavier Torres Veiga, was in London at the start of December. He was there to represent Brazil at a symposium dealing with reforms to the IRB's successful "RugbyReady" program. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Amongst those present were representatives from the six countries which made most use of "RugbyReady", namely England, Scotland, USA, Argentina, Brazil, and Wales. [WDR note: I'm unsure if the countries are ranked by order of RR presentations; they are <u>not </u>listed alphabetically.] </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><img class="rg_hi" data-height="194" data-width="260" height="194" id="rg_hi" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQVF-LU6AcDXFsipNsdLYBUl7mX1OnGWhhsSAqgriQneTUNAUE3Gw" style="height: 194px; width: 260px;" width="260" /></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The agenda consisted of discussions of the present "delivery system" of RugbyReady, with case studies and feedback (both positive and negative) from the Unions, as well as suggestions to improve the program. Two working parties were created, in order to suggest revisions for the program. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A suggestion from the CBRu was to use different levels in RugbyReady [WDR: instead of the current 'one size fits all' approach]. When the meeting was informed that in Brazil, all rugby players are required to study (and gain certificates for) both RugbyReady and RugbyLaws before they are allowed to play the sport, all the delegates showed approval. Nick Scott of England's RFU indicated that they are thinking of enforcing the same mandatory study element in England. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><img class="rg_hi" data-height="180" data-width="180" height="180" id="rg_hi" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR8LOLRZB3rZVfVZxf_LBymSuln8olEJw6w81ThHVu_xFaBvGA11g" style="height: 180px; width: 180px;" width="180" /></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The CBRu wants RugbyReady to have greater take-up rates worldwide. To strengthen this aim, Brazil suggested that the program's introduction could 'promote' the core values of rugby union, something which is also already well covered in Brazil by the separate Beginner's Guide (using material translated into Brazilian Portuguese), but which could be covered in the RugbyReady program instead. This suggestion was accepted by the meeting. We do not want to lose sight of the view that RugbyReady is a program of "best practices", and as such ought to be subject to continual work and improvement. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The meeting also dealt with the topic of injuries to players/participants, which only reinforced the </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">approach taken in Brazil, namely that safety must always be the primary consideration. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Going forward, in 2011 we need to continue the work of spreading the RugbyReady program. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><img class="rg_i" data-src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQXtA2DGaTiBnSOxmrIYvXANae2pCPGAKQ5UB90fuqP0sA4gR0x" data-sz="f" height="176" id="X_SXtHy9e5TOaM:b" onload="this.style.display='inline';google.stb.csi.onTbn(0, this)" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQXtA2DGaTiBnSOxmrIYvXANae2pCPGAKQ5UB90fuqP0sA4gR0x" style="display: inline; height: 176px; width: 176px;" width="176" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Source : <a href="http://www.brasilrugby.com.br/">http://www.brasilrugby.com.br/</a> 22/12/2010 </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><img class="rg_hi" data-height="174" data-width="289" height="174" id="rg_hi" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSiutjfxcTzUiYe_39oeRItRGNyREiv3ioSBcn4hIDBTURMRyoy" style="height: 174px; width: 289px;" width="289" /></span>wdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993287210672562335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824841170109020277.post-87570042531068200482010-12-19T20:00:00.003-02:002010-12-19T20:07:16.519-02:00Trophy awarded to Brasilian Super 8 ChampionsSao Jose Rugby Club were the 2010 winners of Brasil's national club championship, the Super 8. <br />
The city of Sao Jose dos Campos, population 600 000 , is in the east of Sao Paulo state. <br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5479900&id=300305904297" id="myphotolink"><img height="480" id="myphoto" seq="11" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1384.snc4/163615_474401699297_300305904297_5479926_64271_n.jpg" width="720" /></a><br />
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Notice the lack of media awareness, as shown by the almost total absence of sponsors' logos in the picture. <br />
<br />
Source: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Confederacao-Brasileira-de-Rugby/300305904297#!/pages/Confederacao-Brasileira-de-Rugby/300305904297">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Confederacao-Brasileira-de-Rugby/300305904297#!/pages/Confederacao-Brasileira-de-Rugby/300305904297</a> <br />
(Facebook site of the Brasilian Rugby Confederation)wdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993287210672562335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824841170109020277.post-14636516214314555642010-12-07T17:13:00.000-02:002010-12-07T17:13:03.831-02:00What has the IRB ever done for Brazil?<span style="color: #254090; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Black; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #254090; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Black; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #254090; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Black; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spotlight on: Rugby development in Brazil</span> <br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Brazilian Rugby Union has wasted no time in beginning its preparations for the first Olympic Rugby Sevens tournament, which will be staged in the South American country in 2016. The International Olympic Committee’s vote to include Sevens in the Olympic Games came just one week after <city w:st="on">Rio de Janeiro</city> was selected as the 2016 <place w:st="on"><placename w:st="on">Host</placename> <placetype w:st="on">City</placetype></place>. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;">Following the vote in October 2009, the Brazilian National Olympic Committee has set aside funding to support the development of Women’s Sevens in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Brazil</place></country-region>. The funding comes as a direct </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;">result of Rugby’s re-inclusion in the Games and reflects the growing stature of the Brazilian Women’s Sevens team, which ranked an impressive 10th at the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009 in <place w:st="on"><city w:st="on">Dubai</city></place>. <country-region w:st="on">Brazil</country-region> are also six-time South American Women’s Sevens champions and their success over recent years has helped to grow the profile of Rugby in <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Brazil</country-region></place>. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;">Team member Emily Barker said: “After the 2009 South American Championships, everybody </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;">suddenly realised that the Brazilian Women’s team are really good and we are now starting to get a lot more TV coverage and people know now about us.” Not to be outdone, their male counterparts have also been making rapid progress. In 2010, <country-region w:st="on">Brazil</country-region>’s Men’s Sevens team beat the <country-region w:st="on">USA</country-region> for the first time ever and also conquered <place w:st="on"><country-region w:st="on">Uruguay</country-region></place> for the first time in 50 years. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Both the Men’s and Women’s Sevens teams have benefitted in recent years from specialist coaching from some of the top Argentinean coaches. The programme is also a focus area for the IRB, with South America Regional General Manager Hernan Rocou Oliva working closely with the CRBu. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>The Union’s main strategic goal is to increase awareness of Rugby in <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Brazil</place></country-region></strong>, with the Pan </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;">American Games in 2011, World Cup Sevens 2013 and <place w:st="on">Rio</place> 2016 Olympic Games identified as </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black;">specific targets. <strong>This effort will be supported by significant funding from the IRB’s Major Markets fund, which aims to assist targeted development and spread the Game in all its forms. </strong></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: black;"><strong><span style="color: #8355a4; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Black;"><span style="color: #8355a4; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Black;"><span style="color: #254090; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Black;"><span style="color: #254090; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Black;"><span style="color: #254090; font-family: HelveticaNeue-Black;">IRB reaffirms commitment <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Funding aids global expansion</span><br />
<div align="left"></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Medium; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-Medium;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The Global Strategic Investment Programme continues to help fund <place w:st="on">Rugby</place>’s phenomenal growth. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>Development highlights in 2009 included</strong> the funding of a High Performance Centre in Samoa following last year’s Tsunami, a new artificial pitch in Tbilisi, Georgia, continued High Performance funding in Argentina and <strong>the establishment of a Major Markets fund to invest specifically in Brazil</strong>, Russia, India, China and Mexico</span><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Medium; mso-bidi-font-family: HelveticaNeue-Medium;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: black;">Source: <a href="http://www.irb.com/mm/document/newsmedia/mediazone/02/04/11/58/2041158_pdf.pdf">http://www.irb.com/mm/document/newsmedia/mediazone/02/04/11/58/2041158_pdf.pdf</a> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: black;"> <img class="rg_hi" data-height="160" data-width="315" height="160" id="rg_hi" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSc4WSPjrH-1UVuRoAYDM2iDRZcV87UT3z7l4_ByW0BFFpVfvOT" style="height: 160px; width: 315px;" width="315" /> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Dear IRB, please keep the cash coming this way, so that the Brazil Womens national team no longer has to take their clothes off and pose for money-raising calendars... wait, let me think this one through... </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">...OK, we'll take the cash, and put clothing on the finely-honed bodies of the men's Keep Walking team instead, everybody wins! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><img class="rg_hi" data-height="183" data-width="275" height="183" id="rg_hi" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRFcZNkCwHZPtUjfWH-rKOLToZDkju7KG_AsufEMeFzSRlaKion" style="height: 183px; width: 275px;" width="275" /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><img class="rg_hi" data-height="267" data-width="189" height="267" id="rg_hi" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQDbigzot1aopqHE7i8hZuGD33cpJngYTPquOSw1KQ5LjpVAVaVtA" style="height: 267px; width: 189px;" width="189" /> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Source: <a href="http://www.rugbymania.com.br/2009/ver_noticia08.asp?codigo=2741">http://www.rugbymania.com.br/2009/ver_noticia08.asp?codigo=2741</a> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><br />
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</div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></strong></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span> </span></span></span>wdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993287210672562335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824841170109020277.post-41269965185483441062010-11-28T23:36:00.001-02:002010-11-28T23:38:53.786-02:00Neighbourhood Watch, Rio-styleCartoon from the front page of O Globo newspaper, Friday 26/11/2010. <br />
Christ the Redeemer statue wearing police-issue bullet proof vest. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GFqwe8U9f0QerSkN7V0VDmIFS5J-OvyS1k_yOQgmkIb-664-S-R0pn6mdg8xS1zandX2mSj4Fch4j8pb4HQTIV4EMMJiMvlK8CNhuz9SpSLsHh3MyYZ8oiRX7Abj0VNdVMg-Y_qJo08/s1600/Rio+cartoon0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GFqwe8U9f0QerSkN7V0VDmIFS5J-OvyS1k_yOQgmkIb-664-S-R0pn6mdg8xS1zandX2mSj4Fch4j8pb4HQTIV4EMMJiMvlK8CNhuz9SpSLsHh3MyYZ8oiRX7Abj0VNdVMg-Y_qJo08/s320/Rio+cartoon0001.jpg" width="262" /></a><br />
<br />
Rumours that a burning bus will be the Olympic torch for the 2016 Rio games are probably true... <br />
<br />
<br />
<u><strong>You couldn´t make it up Dep't </strong></u><br />
<br />
(1) Starting next week, on Tuesday 30th December 2010, Rio is hosting the 45th World Military Shooting Championship. The home team is obviously just doing some extra training right now. <br />
<a href="http://www.rio2011.mil.br/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=304&Itemid=187">http://www.rio2011.mil.br/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=304&Itemid=187</a><br />
<br />
<br />
(2) In other unbelievable-but-true news, Rio de Janeiro will be hosting the 2011 Military World Games (looks like they are going to the correct venue)... <br />
<a href="http://www.cism-milsport.org/eng/005_WORLD_GAMES/2011_rio/2011_rio.asp">http://www.cism-milsport.org/eng/005_WORLD_GAMES/2011_rio/2011_rio.asp</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<img class="rg_hi" data-height="216" data-width="234" height="216" id="rg_hi" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTqR92SSvOLn4YjoAdUZiilVxDm6sUl8EfwsnlcxbQgtgPDmGk0rw" style="height: 216px; width: 234px;" width="234" />wdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993287210672562335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824841170109020277.post-18503385612769782492010-11-14T01:18:00.000-02:002010-11-14T01:18:00.451-02:00Always look on the bright side of McLifeYes yes, ok, Scotland got schooled today by the Men in Black <br />
<img class="rg_hi" data-height="217" data-width="233" height="217" id="rg_hi" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQpsHzKTcj_IVm0sXOkiLxfsW9aIfWHSc-s4_xDIEyNDUD4zuQwUg" style="height: 217px; width: 233px;" width="233" /><br />
<br />
Cheer yourself up by listening to this youtube classic ! <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ojpy8yYTU6w&feature=fvw">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ojpy8yYTU6w&feature=fvw</a><br />
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It is a mix-up of Jimmy Shand (traditional Scottish accordion music) and 50 Cent (American gangsta rapper, from the clan McCent), AND IT WORKS! <br />
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<img class="rg_hi" data-height="191" data-width="160" height="191" id="rg_hi" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSLwpYaKBbaHfVTRvYisTTWgd9iXI_bQXSLHDjpnns9kMxRUFqc" style="height: 191px; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br />
<img class="rg_hi" data-height="267" data-width="189" height="267" id="rg_hi" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSacaoEmgxO-CP4ze2vgaCXnpG8FkLn1gwyNAq9L6e6zqFkhIdoKw" style="height: 267px; width: 189px;" width="189" /><br />
<br />
Respect.wdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993287210672562335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824841170109020277.post-60579463918836762992010-11-12T00:51:00.002-02:002010-12-10T20:03:30.468-02:00comic strip<img class="rg_hi" data-height="246" data-width="205" height="246" id="rg_hi" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSCkeFIJd27QR85bUdltZCyPkr_g7OmXJAc2gI2Bk0CkFQVC54I" style="height: 246px; width: 205px;" width="205" />wdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993287210672562335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824841170109020277.post-26264244257173408382010-11-05T17:59:00.000-02:002010-11-05T17:59:19.830-02:00Why I love rugby, part 2<img class="rg_hi" data-height="116" data-width="155" height="116" id="rg_hi" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQnSRb8JhLmFYhsZRE7bJlXSkpZFFIewlS0FpqJYu9By84juH8&t=1&usg=__nddA4OewnHxLwgmxpDEb0Cny0wk=" style="height: 116px; width: 155px;" width="155" /><br />
<br />
<img class="rg_hi" data-height="184" data-width="274" height="184" id="rg_hi" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS-bhPVb9Gig5HU36qZkHTtu-NZRcMjN6-Ra-tzWjQcG39pllo&t=1&usg=__V8JLAO8L8yk3OG0P0jMbRHWb5DM=" style="height: 184px; width: 274px;" width="274" /><br />
<br />
Yes, it can be played anywhere. <br />
<br />
Photo 1 from <span id="rg_hr">rugbymania.com.br </span><br />
Photo 2 from <span id="rg_hr">moitarugbyclubedabairrada.blogspot.com </span>wdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993287210672562335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824841170109020277.post-15885575465747038012010-11-05T17:45:00.000-02:002010-11-05T17:45:21.743-02:00Why I love rugby<img src="http://www.irb.com/mm/Photo/NewsMedia/MediaZone/02/04/04/64/2040464_M18.jpg" /><br />
<br />
It can be played anywhere. <br />
<br />
<br />
Photo by Paul Thomas (Action Images). Found on the IRB website at <a href="http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/mediazone/pressrelease/newsid=2040674.html#bengal+khuki+named+photo+year+2010">http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/mediazone/pressrelease/newsid=2040674.html#bengal+khuki+named+photo+year+2010</a>wdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993287210672562335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824841170109020277.post-59928545696326886902010-10-19T11:59:00.000-02:002010-10-19T11:59:53.483-02:00What's wrong with this picture?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What's wrong with this picture? </span><br />
<br />
<img height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1deVNVVzcrOEXGHUmZIYaqa_AP0Fs4KXKu9jFkKFjdKV-0fQ0_0UNztua38dMVdsVUaGq1MoUIVeIdmoje4dAsmkdq38dCEDRt3yVE1vY8SZvG6B_PJf8i31E45A36FX0fFWMHIpQ1HTB/s1600/0358560B.jpg" width="600" /><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once again, WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE? </span><br />
<br />
<img height="225" id="il_fi" src="http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/mm/Photo/NewsMedia/0/ConsurAURUvPARattack_7621_SQ_MEDIUM.JPG" width="225" /><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay, here's a clue, or rather, el clue-o...</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<img height="320" id="il_fi" src="http://blogdeportivo.com.ar/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/itau.jpg" width="465" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What's wrong is that Itaú Bank <strong>from Brasil</strong> is sponsoring rugby in Argentina and Uruguay, but is NOT sponsoring rugby in Brasil! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">However, now that Bradesco Bank (a.k.a. the good guys) has taken the lead by signing a deal with the CBRu, </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I can only hope that the 'herd mentality' will take effect, so encouraging Itaú to also help the sport in its own country. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And then we can start on getting the car manufacturers involved as well... </span>wdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993287210672562335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824841170109020277.post-80151877325018899082010-10-16T23:09:00.000-03:002010-10-16T23:09:06.031-03:00Horario Politico<img _no_widget="true" _uonerror="null" _uonload="null" height="341" id="lbImage" origheight="341" origwidth="480" src="http://us.mg5.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?fid=Inbox&mid=1_126245_AM5VimIAAWz6TLo%2B7Q46%2FBEeMFs&pid=2&tnef=&YY=1287281174740&newid=1&clean=0&inline=1" style="opacity: 1; position: static;" width="480" />wdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993287210672562335noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824841170109020277.post-52136160606203420702010-10-16T22:55:00.000-03:002010-10-16T22:55:23.785-03:00For fun : Interactive map of Scotland's whisky distilleries<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The enclosed link is to the "Scotsman" newspaper's Whisky Distillery Map: </span><br />
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<a href="http://whisky.scotsman.com/map.aspx">http://whisky.scotsman.com/map.aspx</a> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So you know what "wee half" to drink during the "third half" ! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My top three are The Macallan, Highland Park, and Bowmore. </span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQnFAEb0ijbUNAXIq77RgCCXbQAMreuPsf0oUiBEpPNaBSOpFw&t=1&usg=__OePG-F5bCK2pSagaDgX3ItYgUSA=" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" class="rg_hi" data-height="240" data-width="151" height="240" id="rg_hi" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQnFAEb0ijbUNAXIq77RgCCXbQAMreuPsf0oUiBEpPNaBSOpFw&t=1&usg=__OePG-F5bCK2pSagaDgX3ItYgUSA=" style="height: 240px; width: 151px;" width="151" /></a><img class="rg_hi" data-height="225" data-width="225" height="225" id="rg_hi" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRDC1pRZA9-yLmbwvywsxZljd-TlXl0VdVzYMXOiik5Yd9WpGg&t=1&usg=__USze4jZ4RkVAc5oqG_fe8i5daxI=" style="height: 225px; width: 225px;" width="225" /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSGWcagTfwIOooAsxPX4oPyQMcaQiqw-mvNwH662NkTnqXeb6o&t=1&usg=__HEq9rYWgWd5OvvHDZSKT_YttUY0=" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="rg_hi" data-height="306" data-width="154" height="306" id="rg_hi" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSGWcagTfwIOooAsxPX4oPyQMcaQiqw-mvNwH662NkTnqXeb6o&t=1&usg=__HEq9rYWgWd5OvvHDZSKT_YttUY0=" style="height: 306px; width: 154px;" width="154" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These 3 are all easier to find in Brasil than is Irn Bru </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><img class="rg_hi" data-height="289" data-width="174" height="289" id="rg_hi" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQPDSK0i9ixAyixnFhDPnrvjPgS47O4kb-_iZy8y8MtjtvfwE8&t=1&usg=__gZv19VKD7KGM2Ick7kwYDdrvdTU=" style="height: 289px; width: 174px;" width="174" /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">N.B. Please bevvy responsibly... </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>wdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08993287210672562335noreply@blogger.com0